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Guitar Strings

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About Guitar Strings


Our Sales Engineers know it better than anyone: the right set of guitar strings can bring huge gains to your tone and enhance your overall enjoyment of playing the guitar. Sweetwater carries a massive selection of different string brands and types, such as D’Addario’s popular XL electric guitar strings, Ernie Ball’s iconic Slinky guitar strings, La Bella’s mandolin strings, and GHS’s banjo string options. The first step in finding the right strings is to know which set will work best for your instrument. With so many options, however, it can be tricky knowing where to start. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Sweetwater makes it easy to shop and learn about guitar strings.


What are guitar strings made of?


There are three parts involved in the making of guitar strings:


  • Core shape: The foundation of every guitar string is a core wire. Typically, guitar strings are either made with a round or hex core construction. By and large, manufacturers have switched to using hex core construction for their guitar strings. This is because hex core guitar strings are thought to produce a brighter tone, improved clarity, and better attack when playing with a pick.

  • Winding: The next component of a guitar string is the winding around the core wire. Roundwound and flatwound strings each have their own benefits depending on the type of guitar you play and your playing style. Most solidbody guitars have roundwound strings, which deliver great sustain and overtones. Flatwound strings don’t yield as bright of a tone, but they are very comfortable to play and don’t make any string noise when playing across the fretboard. For example, you might use flatwound strings on a hollowbody guitar or fretless bass. Of course, you can get the best of both worlds from halfwound strings, which are roundwound and then grinded smooth for flatwound-like playability. For bass guitars, you might also use tapewound guitar strings.

  • Coating: Guitar strings often use a polymer coating to improve playability and increase the life span of your guitar strings by preventing corrosion. You may notice more of a mellow tone than non-coated guitar strings, but the pros outweigh the cons in many cases. Coated guitar strings play and feel great.

In which order do I tune my guitar strings?


Standard tuning for a 6-string guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E, from the top of the guitar to the bottom. One way that guitarists remember the order to tune their strings is with a fun mnemonic device like “Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears.” Guitar string packs are often color coded for simple setup with your instrument. And if you’d like a complete walkthrough, SweetCare is a great resource for learning how to restring an electric guitar.


What should I consider when choosing guitar strings?


  • Application: It may not be clear that acoustic, electric, classical, and even bass guitars all require different string types. The best strings for acoustic guitar are not the same as the best strings for electric guitar and vice versa. There’s no need to overthink it, though - shopping guitar string categories is fast and simple on Sweetwater.com. If you’d like more help choosing the right strings, our Sales Engineers are always available.

  • String Gauge: Choosing a string gauge - or the diameter of each string on your guitar - can be as customized as you’d like. A pack of strings will show the top-string gauge followed by the bottom-string gauge; e.g., 0.10-0.46. If you’re a heavy-metal rhythm guitarist playing in drop C, set your sights on a heavier-gauge pack such as 0.12-0.52. If you play lightly or execute plenty of bends in your solos, a lighter-gauge pack such as 0.009-0.42 will do the trick.

  • Material: Depending on your instrument, there are many guitar string materials you can choose from. Acoustic guitar strings are often made from 80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze. Electric guitar strings are more assorted, with options like stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, plain nickel, and cobalt. Most electric guitarists are familiar with nickel-plated steel strings, but all materials are a viable option for your instrument.

How long do guitar strings last, and when should I change them?


Guitar strings will typically last for 100 hours of playing. How often you need to change them depends on how often you play, how often you clean them, the string material, and whether or not they’re coated. As a rule of thumb, replace your strings whenever one breaks or if you notice an unwanted difference in tone and playability from your guitar.


What tools do I need to change my guitar strings?


Common tools that help with replacing your guitar strings include peg winders, string cutters, bridge pins, and more. Sweetwater makes it easy to get your guitar tools and other accessories all in one place.


Why shop guitar strings at Sweetwater.com?


With a massive selection of guitar strings, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, 24/7 access to award-winning support - and more - Sweetwater gives you more than any other retailer! If you have any questions about Guitar Strings, make sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.



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